Multi-Bore Cryogen-Free Superconducting Magnet for Extremities MRI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extremities MRI scanners are large, expensive, and inconvenient for use in non-hospital settings due to their size, weight, and requirement for liquid helium cooling, which limits their portability and installation flexibility, and often do not comfortably accommodate scanning both limbs simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A multi-bore extremities MRI system with a cryogen-free superconducting magnet and articulating arm, featuring separate and isolated scanning and non-scanning bores, allows for comfortable positioning of both limbs and reduces the need for special facilities, enabling more compact and affordable point-of-care imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conventional superconducting magnet with liquid helium cooling is used, then high magnetic field strength is achieved, but device size, weight, and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling parameter from liquid helium to cryogen-free magnetic resonance cooling, enabling the superconducting magnet to operate without heavy helium cooling infrastructure while maintaining high magnetic field strength for imaging quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the liquid helium cooling system from the MRI device, eliminating the need for heavy helium storage tanks, cooling infrastructure, and associated safety systems, thereby reducing overall device weight and installation complexity
2Volume of moving object
If a conventional single-bore MRI scanner is used, then compact design is achieved, but patient comfort and ability to scan both limbs simultaneously deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning space into multiple separate bores (first bore and second bore) within the device, allowing each limb to be positioned independently in its own bore while maintaining overall device compactness, thereby improving patient comfort during scanning
3Reliability
If liquid helium cooling system is used, then superconducting magnet operation is maintained, but operational costs and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling parameter from liquid helium to cryogen-free magnetic resonance cooling, eliminating ongoing helium refilling costs, reducing maintenance requirements, and lowering operational expenses while maintaining the superconducting magnet's reliable operation at ultra-low temperatures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances patient comfort, reduces installation complexities, and facilitates timely diagnosis in various settings by providing a compact, low-maintenance MRI scanner capable of scanning both limbs comfortably and eliminating the need for helium cooling, thus improving accessibility and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cryogen-free superconducting magnet
Implementation Method 2
MRI is a technique for accurate and high-resolution visualization of interior of animal tissues. This technique is based on the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) property.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, a system, and an article of manufacture are disclosed for obtaining imaging data from human extremities using an Extremities MRI (EMRI) system configured to accommodate both legs of a patient during scanning by providing multiple bores, including a scanning bore and one or more non-scanning bores, deployed within an actively or passively shielded, Cryogen-Free (CF), cooled superconducting electromagnet. In various embodiments, the non-scanning bores are located between field or main coils and shield coils, and the cross sections of the bores may be circular, oval, or any other appropriate and useful geometric shape. The longitudinal axis of extra bores may or may not be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the scanning bore.